The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-17
ACTED TOO HASTILY.
Influences That Prevented the Council from
Passing the Supplemental Gas Ordinance.

The special committee of the Council on
natural gas, it is reported. is beginning TO reflect
on its hasty action in regard to a measure that
promised to bring gas into the city before the
1st of January. Had the meeting been held
yesterday instead of the day before is possible
better consideration would have been given to
the ordinance. when there would have been no
call for of its members to say, as he did, that
the ordinance stood no show from the beginning.
"Why," he continued I'VE had minds
made rp before went into that room TO re-
port against the ordinance"
s.Whya" he was asked.
Because We did not what possible good
it would do. We did not believe that it would
hasten any company in it's purposes to pipe
here. I myself think the city will not have gas
this winter. and the majority of the committee
it is my opinion, have the same view. l think
also that am in accord with the majority
when say that the action was taken on the
ground that it would be better to wait three or
four weeks and then. il the Indianapolis Natural
gas company does nothing in the way of piping,
to propose a change of the schedule rates. How
ever. just before we went into the meeting we
were told by close to the company that IL
would accept the present schedule
And upon that promise your action was
basedg"
wait and give the company few weeks more
time. No material interests of the city will
suffer, and if get gas at the rates nxed
it will be better than giving the companies the
advantages of higher scale. At the rates
promised think there will be tremendous
profit. and ] am not in favor of letting the cor
poratious have more than reasonable return on
their Investments"
"Yet the Council makes contracts with
porations when the tremendous profits are more
patent than in this instance"
ANYTHING
when the time comes for their renewal it will be
time enough to consider that question. The
question the Council has been trying to
solve is how to get gas and get it cheaply."
'There is another. How to get gas and get
it quickly"
well the Indianapolis company has told us
that it would have gas in here by fall recog-
nize that the gentlemen concerned II the COM
pany have interests adverse to gas, but cannot
believe they lying TO US about this matter.
Why, they say they have committee in Pitts
burg to buy pipe. That is reasonable 1 tell
you it may be a selfish interest after
lipes at once. When they the
prospect of another company coming In they
will consent to lose something their coal and
artificial gas investments rather than lose the
natural gas supply, aud will hasten to occupy
part of the field at least. But do not look for
Yet am willing TO advocate a change in the
schedule of prices, after three or four weeks, if
there is change in the situation"
The idea General Morris advanced to the COM
mittoe of unrestricted ordinance to prices
for three years was advocated by yester-
day. 1t WAS also stated that the Standard Oil
Company would in with the agreement
that after two three years trial in this way it
would accept a fixed schedule of prices. It is
thought this will be presented to the Council.